One of the most-watched records is total goals scored in a single World Cup. The current record was set at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – 172 goals scored in 64 matches. The expansion in the number of matches this year makes the probability of a new total goals record one of the tournament’s most certain outcomes.
On an individual level, the record for most goals scored in a World Cup is currently held by German forward Miroslav Klose – 16 goals. Lionel Messi of Argentina and Kylian Mbappé of France both have a good chance to break that record if they maintain their form through this tournament.
The 2026 World Cup could also see a new record for number of tournament appearances. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are poised to become the first players to play in 6 different World Cups.
According to football website Transfermarkt, the total value of all participating teams is approximately 17.5 billion euros, making this the most commercially valuable World Cup in history. Topping the chart is France with an estimated squad value of 1.5 billion euros, followed by England at 1.3 billion euros. Many other top-tier teams, such as Spain, Brazil, Germany, and Portugal, also have squads valued at hundreds of millions of euros.
